Waterless floor drain trap valve

Abstract

A Waterless Floor Drain Trap Valve is provided as a drain line backup to withstand the pressure from water/sewage reversing direction and flowing into the occupied space of the building. During usage, as a nut on the top of the Valve is tightened, the expandable outer seal forms a plurality of seal points within the inside diameter of the floor drainpipe while almost simultaneously the bottom cover travels in an upward direction further compressing the expandable outer seal and providing robust sealing to prevent backflow into the living space. The Waterless Floor Drain Trap Valve is further configured to connect remotely to various diagnostic devices, mobile platforms and applications for real-time monitoring of the valve performance.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A waterless floor drain trap valve comprising:
 an inlet end configured with a top cover, the inlet end having a recessed opening and a grate to direct water flow, wherein an edge along a top surface of the grate is flushed with a top surface of the inlet end; 
 an opposite outlet end configured with a bottom cover; 
 a first sensor and a second sensor disposed within the valve and configured to deliver real-time monitoring of the valve; 
 wherein the first sensor is attached to the top cover and positioned in proximity to the inlet end and the second sensor is attached to the bottom cover and positioned in proximity to the outlet end; 
 an expandable outer seal positioned between the top and bottom cover; 
 a fastener positioned proximate to the top cover; 
 a threaded rod connected to a backflow preventer plate and a backflow plate spring and a backflow preventer seal in connection with the bottom cover; 
 wherein during operation the fastener is rotated and tightened by a certain predetermined amount over the top cover on the inlet end; and 
 wherein the rotating and tightening of the fastener in proximity to the top cover further causes the bottom cover to travel a certain predetermined distance in an upward direction thereby outwardly expanding and compressing the outer seal against the inner surface of a drainpipe; and 
 wherein the expansion and compression of the outer seal generates a plurality of seal points within the inside diameter of a floor drainpipe to provide optimum sealing of the drainpipe. 
 
     
     
       2. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is configured to sense the flow of water into the grate; and
 the second sensor is configured to receive information indicative of fluid, sewage and/or gases flowing in the reverse direction and thereby prevent backflow and escape of odors into the living area; and 
 wherein the first and second sensors are further adapted and configured to connect remotely and wirelessly transmit data to various diagnostic devices, mobile platforms and applications for enhanced reliability and closed-loop feedback control of the valve. 
 
     
     
       3. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the backflow preventer plate can be manufactured from steel or other materials having similar strength and tensile characteristics to withstand backflow pressure common in floor drains. 
     
     
       4. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve can be further configured to act as a drain line backup to withstand pressure from water/sewage reversing direction and flowing into the occupied space of the building. 
     
     
       5. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein during the event of a drain line backup, the backflow preventer seal of the backflow preventer plate seals off and blocks the flow of sewage in the reverse direction. 
     
     
       6. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the backflow preventer plate and the backflow preventer seal positioned in proximity to the bottom cover are configured to work cooperatively with each other and create a one-way valve allowing water to flow down the drain while preventing odors, harmful gases, pathogens or insects from entering the living space. 
     
     
       7. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the tightening of the fastener allows the backflow plate spring to exert a light upward force on the backflow plate such that the backflow preventer seal needs only a small amount of pressure to function as a one-way valve; and
 wherein during a drain line backup event the backflow plate spring acts with sufficient force on the backflow preventer plate and keeps the plate in an upward sealed position. 
 
     
     
       8. The valve of  claim 7 , wherein the force of the spring is further balanced with the weight of the backflow preventer plate in order not to obstruct the passage of water in the normal flow direction. 
     
     
       9. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein elastic memory of the expandable outer seal urges the peripheral edge of the outer seal to extend horizontally and form a plurality of seal points against the inner surface of the drain. 
     
     
       10. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom cover further comprise a centrally located aperture and a plurality of apertures radially positioned and circumferentially dispersed at a predetermined distance from each other. 
     
     
       11. A method of using a waterless floor drain trap valve, the method comprising the steps of:
 configuring an inlet end with a top cover, the inlet end having a recessed opening and a grate to direct water flow, wherein an edge along a top surface of the grate is flushed with a top surface of the inlet end; 
 configuring an opposite outlet end with a bottom cover; 
 configuring a first sensor and a second sensor within the valve to deliver real-time monitoring of the valve; 
 attaching the first sensor to the top cover and positioning the first sensor in proximity to the inlet end; 
 attaching a second sensor to the bottom cover and positioning the second sensor in proximity to the outlet end; 
 positioning an expandable outer seal between the top and bottom cover and a fastener proximate to the top cover; 
 connecting a threaded rod to a backflow preventer plate having a backflow plate spring; 
 rotating and tightening the fastener by a certain predetermined amount in proximity to the top cover on the inlet end and moving the bottom cover to travel a certain predetermined distance in an upward direction and thereby outwardly expanding and compressing the outer seal against the inner surface of a drainpipe; 
 forming a plurality of seal points within the inside diameter of a floor drainpipe to provide optimum sealing of the drainpipe. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first sensor is configured to sense the flow of water into the grate; and
 the second sensor is configured to receive information indicative of fluid, sewage and/or gases flowing in the reverse direction and thereby prevent backflow and escape of odors into the living area; and 
 wherein the first and second sensors are further adapted and configured to connect remotely and wirelessly transmit data to various diagnostic devices, mobile platforms and applications for enhanced reliability and closed-loop feedback control of the valve. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the backflow preventer plate can be manufactured from steel or other materials having similar strength and tensile characteristics to withstand backflow pressure common in floor drains. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the valve can be further configured to act as a drain line backup to withstand pressure from water/sewage reversing direction and flowing into the occupied space of the building. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein during the event of a drain line backup, the backflow preventer seal of the backflow preventer plate seals off and blocks the flow of sewage in the reverse direction. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the backflow preventer plate and the backflow preventer seal positioned in proximity to the bottom cover are configured to work cooperatively with each other and create a one-way valve allowing water to flow down the drain while preventing odors, harmful gases, pathogens or insects from entering the living space. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tightening of the fastener allows the backflow plate spring to exert a light upward force on the backflow plate such that the backflow preventer seal needs only a small amount of pressure to function as a one-way valve; and
 wherein during a drain line backup event the backflow plate spring acts with sufficient force on the backflow preventer plate and keeps the plate in an upward sealed position. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the force of the spring is further balanced with the weight of the backflow preventer plate in order not to obstruct the passage of water in the normal flow direction. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11 , wherein elastic memory of the expandable outer seal urges the peripheral edge of the outer seal to extend horizontally and form a plurality of seal points against the inner surface of the drain. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the top and bottom cover further comprise a centrally located aperture and a plurality of apertures radially positioned and circumferentially dispersed at a predetermined distance from each other.